A Longitudinal Study of Disruption to Female Partners of Shiftworkers on Eight and Twelve hour Shifts.

By Rebecca Loudoun

Twelve-hour shifts have become an increasingly popular alternative to eight-hour shifts due, in part, to the view that these shift arrangements are superior in terms of facilitating a better social and family life.

This view is largely based on anecdotal evidence, since few studies have examined the longitudinal relationship between family life and shift length (particularly from the perspective of shiftworkers partners). Using self-report data from 56 male plant and machinery operators and their female partners, this study investigated whether partner disruption from shiftwork is influenced by shift length, and whether shiftworkers' reports of wellbeing are related to partners' reports of disruption from shiftwork.

(CCH Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand; vol. 23, no 2, April 2007; p179-84)